In a recent crackdown on companies like Tencent and ByteDance that operate social media platforms and online gaming, China’s internet watchdog has developed regulations to control the amount of time children spend on smartphones, reports Breaking News.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) published draft guidelines on its website, stating that minors will not be able to use most internet services on mobile devices between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., while children between the ages of 16 and 18 will be allowed to use the internet for two hours a day.
Children aged 8 to 15 will only be able to use it for one hour a day, and children under eight only for 40 minutes.
Only certain services will be excluded, such as applications or platforms deemed appropriate for the physical and mental development of minors.
The CAC did not specify which Internet services are exempt, reports Breaking News.
The bans are Beijing’s latest effort to curb internet addiction, a problem it sees as widespread among youth.
In 2019, Beijing limited children’s daily online gaming time to 90 minutes per day, and tightened these limits in 2021, allowing children to play online games for only one hour on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.
Online short film and video platforms such as Douyin, Bilibili, and Kuaishou offer youth modes that limit the type of content shown to minors and the amount of time they can use the service.
Educational content is also given to children, such as science tests.
Companies in China are often responsible for enforcement.
“To effectively strengthen the online protection of minors, the CAC has in recent years pushed for the establishment of a youth mode on internet platforms, expanding its coverage, optimising its functions and enriching it with age-appropriate content,” the CAC said, reports Breaking News.
“Since the mode was launched, there has been a positive impact in reducing youth internet addiction and the impact of undesirable information,” it added, reports Breaking News.
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